China's capital, with imperial palaces, the Great Wall and old hutong lanes.
Beijing guide · October 2026 edition PDF · 7 pages · 3.6 MBThe imperial palace complex — the single most demanded booking in China and the anchor of every first Beijing day.
Our takeBook as soon as slots open, then build the day around your entry time.
Restored ramparts above wooded hills. Ride up by cable car or chairlift; the toboggan down is a separate ticket.
Our takeOur pick for a first Wall day: well restored, easy by direct shuttle or car. Book your return first.
The round blue-roofed Hall of Prayer — imperial cosmology plus the best morning-exercise people-watching in Beijing.
Our takeGo early to see locals' morning tai chi and kites.
Imperial lake-and-hill garden — Long Corridor, marble boat, and a slow ferry across Kunming Lake.
Our takeGive it most of a day: take the boat across Kunming Lake when it runs, then a short lakeside walk.
The hill behind the Forbidden City — the only place to see the whole golden-roof grid at once; tiny ticket.
Our takeRight across from the Palace’s north exit: climb it for the view over the golden roofs, if legs allow.
Hutong-ringed lakes — rickshaws, bar lights on the water, and winter ice skating.
Our takeBest late afternoon into evening.
Tibetan-Buddhist temple with the 18m sandalwood Buddha — incense-heavy, metro-connected, easy half day.
Our takePair it with the cafés on Wudaoying Hutong next door.
A Qing prince's mansion and garden in the Shichahai lanes — courtyard life at its grandest.
Our takeCombine with a walk around the lakes.
Imperial lake park with the White Dagoba — paddle boats north of the Forbidden City.
Our takeRent a paddle boat and see the White Dagoba from the water.
Bauhaus factory complex turned gallery district — contemporary China in an afternoon, free to roam.
Our takeFree to roam; pick one show that interests you and wander the rest.
3 days, three ways. Choose your three sightseeing days: iconic sights, hutong life or slower gardens. Add arrival and departure.
The classic route: iconic sights and big history.
See this plan day by day →Local life, old lanes and a modern creative side.
See this plan day by day →Parks, temples and breathing room.
See this plan day by day →Our takeIf the Palace is in your plan, book it first and arrange the other days around it. Keep the Palace and the Wall on separate days.
Metro: Wangfujing 1 · 8, Dongdan 1 · 5
First visits and conventional hotels
Trade-off: Busy streets and often higher prices; the palace entrance is farther than it looks.
Metro: Guomao 1 · 10
Hotel facilities and trips mixing business with sightseeing
Trade-off: Farther from the old-city sights; wide roads add to the walk.
Metro: Qianmen 2 · 8
Historic lanes and evening walks in southern Beijing
Trade-off: Pedestrian lanes complicate luggage and taxi access; check the actual hotel door.
Metro: Dongsi 5 · 6, Dengshikou 5
Hutong life with central metro connections
Trade-off: Courtyard stays may have stairs or a walk from the road; facilities vary.
Metro: Shichahai 8
Lake walks, hutong cafés and late evenings
Trade-off: Bar noise and narrow lanes can affect sleep and luggage access.
Our takeOne check before you book: check the actual metro walk and whether a taxi can reach the hotel door.
Take the Capital Airport Express to the interchange that suits your hotel: Sanyuanqiao for Lines 10/12, Dongzhimen for 2/13, or Beixinqiao for 5. The ¥25 fare covers the airport line only; onward metro costs extra. After rail closes, the PEK–Beijing West bus runs around the clock. Check its stops and the final hotel leg.
Take the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao for Lines 10 or 19. For Line 4, change again, for example from Line 19 at Ping’anli. Airport-line fares to Caoqiao are ¥35 standard or ¥50 business class; onward travel costs extra. After rail closes, the PKX–Beijing Railway Station bus runs around the clock. Check the current route and your hotel’s final leg.
Beijing West is on Lines 7 and 9; Beijing South on Lines 4 and 14. The Xi’an trains in our itineraries use Beijing West.
Our takeOne move after you land: keep your hotel's address in Chinese to show the driver. Make an address card →
Beijing practical card →Spring (March–May) and autumn (September to early November) bring the best walking weather; late November turns cold.
Typical daytime high, night low and share of wet days (1991–2020 averages, not a forecast). Golden Week (1–7 Oct 2026): expect crowds; check the official dates for other years.
No published sessions in the next weeks. Ask what fits your dates.
Ask anything about your trip, keep what you like in your Trip, and we’ll keep an eye on it until you’re home.
